BROOKLYN KNIGHTS

January 27, 2013CALLING IT A KNIGHTBrooklyn Knights, citing a focus on youth teams and other areas, won't play in PDL

Citing a decision to focus on its youth teams and other areas, the Brooklyn Knights have decided not to field a team in the Premier Development League, ending a 13-year run that produced several notable alumni.

"After the number of seasons we have played we have decided to focus on our youth teams and other new directions at Met Oval," Knight president Jim Vogt said on Sunday.

Vogt said that the Brooklyn Knights and the Met Oval "will remain a member of the USL [United Soccer Leagues] family. Our many thanks to Tim Holt and all at the USL for there support over the years and the future."

The Knights will have youth teams in the Super Y and Super 20 programs," Vogt added. They also will continue to field teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and in the Pre-Academy league.

Founded in 1999, the Knights played in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Divisions. They reached their greatest heights in 2007, finishing second in the Northeast Division and reaching the PDL national semifinals. The next season Brooklyn finished atop the division and qualified for the conference final.

This past season the Knights finished 5-9-2 with 17 points.

The Knights gave several current and former pro players an opportunity to continue to develop their skills at the highest levels of amateur soccer.

Notable alumni include Chivas USA midfielder and St. John's standout Shalrie Joseph, a four time MLS Best XI, Chris Wingert, another Red Storm star and Hermann Trophy winner who plays for Real Salt Lake, former Red Bulls and current Puerto Rico international goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, ex-Red Bulls forward Chris Megaloudis, another member of the Puerto Rico team and former Long Island Rough Rider Gary Sullivan.

Other former players who have performed with the Knights include Knox Cameron (Columbus Crew), former Dowling College Division II All-American Guy Roland Kpene (D.C. United), Edson Elcock (Kansas City Wizards) and Hofstra University standout Gary Flood (New England Revolution).

Stony Brook University midfielder Leo Fernandes, a Division I 2012 All-American selection and BigAppleSoccer.com's men's college player of the year, also played for the Knights.

The PDL last week released its team alignments and schedule.

The Mid-Atlantic Division, which is in the Eastern Conference, will have 10 teams: